Locking ring for demountable bowls subjected to pressure



Oct. 26 19 55 R. E. POETHIG ETAL 3,214,054

LOCKING RING FOR DEMOUNTABLE BOWLS SUBJECTED TO PRESSURE Original Filed April 15, 1963 United States Patent O 4 claims. (ci. zzo-46) This application is a divisional application of Serial No. 272,991, which was led April 15, 1963, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an improved system for lubricating pneumatically operated devices by supplying lubricant to the compressed air that powers the devices and particularly to readily disengageable locking rings for airline bowls subjected to pressure.

In the system contemplated by the present invention, an airline device having a removable bowl or reservoir connected in the air stream that powers pneumatic tools, is provided with a locking ring that is readily attached and detached for supporting the bowl in sealed relationship on the device under airline pressure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple arrangement by which a pressurized storage chamber can be removed, replenished and remounted, quickly and easily with very little loss of air pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic air line lubricator and bowl release support arrangement which is easy to install, service and maintain yet is rugged and simple in its construction and operation for handling by unskilled employees.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and further objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and the accompanying drawings relating thereto, wherein:

, FIG. 1 is a perspective, generally side elevational View of a lubricator embodying the invention connected in a compressed air line used for pneumatic tools;

j FIG. 2 is a verti-cal section through the lubricator taken `upon the radial plane represented by line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section essentially through the head portion taken on line 3--3 in FIG. 1.

The lubricator shown for purposes of describing the in- 'vention embodies oil drop feeding with mist injection under a pressure differential. The higher pressure is created on the upstream side and is imposed upon a lubricant reservoir, preferably in a metered relationship. An air by-pass is controlled to provide a regulated differential pressure in the oil reservoir. A locking ring supports the reservoir in sealed relationship on the body while the pressure is on and can be quickly released and `reattached for movement of the reservoir vertically when the air pressure in the reservoir is vented.

In FIG. 1 a lubricator body 10 is shown connected in a compressed air line with an input coupling at 9 and an output coupling at 11. A bowl 34 is secured to the body releasable by a lock ring 78 to provide a unitized lubricator with an oil reservoir 13. The main portion of the air supplied to the pneumatic device is conducted into the inlet 12 of the housing 10 and through a venturi having a square throat 14 then Athrough a vertically disposed cross bore 16, out through the enlarged downstream side 18, and into the downstream conduit 11.

A passage leads from the upstream side 1.2 through a boss 22 and through a valve chamber 24 into the top portion 26 of the lubricant reservoir 13 (FIG. 3). A check valve 28 closing in the direction of ow of air through passage 20 is actuated by a filler plug 30. When the filler plug is in place, as shown threaded into the housing 10 (FIG. 3), the Valve 28 is held open against the closing lCC force of air owing through it. Then whenever the ller plug 30 is removed, the check valve 28 is forced to close by the air moving therethrough. Closure of the valve cuts oit the supply of pressure to the lubricant reservoir through passage 20. The liller plug 30 can be loosened to vent the reservoir and close the valve whereupon the plug can be removed if desired to replenish the reservoir with oil.

It will be observed in FIG. 2 that a iiexible oil eduction tube 32 extends to a point near the bottom of the reservoir bowl 34 as mounted upon a check valve fitting 36 having a ball check 37 therein closing with the back ilow of oil upwardly through the tube 32. The upper end or downstream side of the fitting leads to an oil drip nozzle 3S l-ocated in a drop or oil supply chamber 39 above a conical cavity 40 in the top of the housing 10. The cavity 40 is in communication with the upper end of the cross bore through an opening 42. Through this eduction conduit 32 oil llows'fr-orn the lubricant storage compartment 13 past the valve 37 whenever the pressure is higher, and proportionately so, in the oil reservoir 13 than it is in the chamber 39.

The degree of the differential pressure between the chamber 39 and the oil reservoir 13 is controlled by an adjustable valve 44 located in a passage 46 leading from the top of the oil reservoir 13 to the chamber 39 past a back flow check valve 48. The valve 44 is threaded into the body 10 as at 50 and sealed against leakage as by an O-ring at 52 for rotation by a removable key 54. Adjustment of this` valve determines the rate of oil dropping from the nozzle 38.

In order to diffuse and fog the oil entering the cross .bore 16, a rotatable device 58 sealed at the top and the bottom as shown is employed comprising upper and lower plugs 60 and 62, respectively, journalled in the cross bore 16 and interconnected `by a porous sintered metal blade 64 having a pore size of approximately 123 microns. .The sintered metal employed is bronze and the facing ends .of the plugs are shaped to retain the blade. The upper plug 60 is cross kerfed to receive the top edge of the blade 64 and the upper face of the lower plug 62 is provided with annular rib 63 embedded in the lower edge of the blade. The upper face of the upper plug is provided with a hexagonal bore 42 to pass the oil drops. Thus, pressure in the inlet 12 can reach the chamber 39 under some conditions but can go no further than check valves 37 and 48 when the reservoir 34 is vented to atmosphere upon removal of plug 30. l

Whenever it becomes desirable to replenish the oil reservoir 13, the plug 30 can be loosened to vent the reservoir with back ilow check valves 28, 37 and 48 closing to prevent air pressure from escaping. Then the plug 30can be removed, and if the plug 30 is removed, the replenishing oil can be poured through the plug opening.

On theV other hand, it is preferred to remove the bowl by actuation of a quickly manipulated retainer ring and just lill the open bowl 34 from a handy supply device and return it immediately to place with the ring snapped again into place.

This ring and attachment of the bowl will now be described. For purposes of releasably supporting the oil reservoir bowl on the body 10 a downwardly extending annular flange 70 having an external O-ring groove 72 therein is provided upon the bottom of the body 10. For mating therewith the upper end of the bowl 34 is offset outwardly to provide a cylindrical surface 74 which telescopes over iiange 70 with suicient clearance that it can be readily attached and removed. An O-ring 76 in the groove 72Y seals the joint against escape of air under pressure.

The bowl is supported in said `telescoping relationship by a quickly attached anddetached ring 78. In providing this support, the bowl has a peripheral flange 80 that is provided a shoulder 82, and the ring 78 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 84 which engages and supports the flange 80 when in position to do so.

The ring 78 is locked against rem-oval and for this purpose is provided with an internal groove at 86 which mates with annular male flange segments 88 uponthe body 10.

Also, the body is provided with a groove 90 which mates with annular female segments 92 located adjacent to the upper edge of the ring 78. The flange segments 86 and 92 serve in the nature of bayonet joint elements since the segments in one member slip between the segments in the other member so that they come to meet in the cooperating grooves as described, whereupon a slight turning of the ring brings the segments in axial abutting .relationship to support the bowl 34 against `downward movement.

For purposes of ready engagement and disengagement, the tolerances are quite large for the segments and can be engaged or disengaged by relative rotation in either direction. However, to lock the segments in abutting relationship, a latch 94 (FIG. 3) is provided upon the ring 78 in a space between two of the segments 92 (FIG. .2). The upper end of the .latch intersects the groove 86 in the ring '78 and is spring urged in an upward direction by a compression spring 96 held in place by a cross pin 98. The lower end of the latchhas a radiallip 100 thereon serving as a combination stop and manual means for operating the latch. A longitudinal groove 102 is provided through the latch to allow for the pin 98 during .movement of the latch. The spring is located lin an eX- ternal groove 106 upon the latch and the latch extends .through an opening 10,8 through the .flange 84 where it is held in guided relationship by the .flange 84. Some space is provided between the upper end Yof the latch and the upper edge of the flange segments 92.

Assuming the reservoir 34 as being already detached for filling with lubricant, the ring 78 Ais slipped into place Vover the bottom of thereservoir yand the reservoir is raised to its sealed position telescoping with flange 70 on the body 10. After this the ring is moved upwardly and rotated slightly until the flange ,segments interdigiitate whereupon one of the flange segments 88 is in engagement with the upper end of the latch 94. Further movement of the ring depresses the latch to locate the flange segments in their respective grooves whereupon the ringis turned until the latch snaps upwardly between two of the flange `segments 88 on the body 10. This disposes the segments in abutting relationshipfor supporting the kbowl 34 against removal. While pressure is present in the bowl, the engaged flange segments are heavilyloaded frictionally to prevent inadvertent rotation and disengagement. Moreover, it will be observed that the latch can be received between any two adjacent segments 88 which permits orientation for accessibility of the .latch a full 360 around the lubricator.

When it is desired to remove the bowl 34, the filler Vplug is manipulated to vent the reservoir space 13, the latch 94 is pulled downwardly by its radial lip 100 to clear the body segments 88 and a slight twist thereof ,interdigitates the segments so that the ring 78 can be lowered and the bowl 34 with it. In this connection it is to be noted that the tube 32 is flexible so that it will not be brokenby any lateral movement of the bowl 34 during engagement .or disengagement thereof and the ring and latch can .be managed with one hand.

As will be observed in FIGS. .1 and 2, a drain valve 98 is provided inthe .bottom of the bowl 34 for use if desired. Opening this valve slightly while pressure is present in the reservoir 13 will rapidly -exhaust the'oil or `sediment from the bowl 34.

Although a rugged aluminum bowl can be used where solvent vapors or Aother fluids might damage plastics or where operating pressures up to 250 pounds per square inch might be employed, it is preferred to use plastic bowls which are reinforced with wire mesh where working pressures will not exceed 150 pounds per square inch. It is desirable to use the wire reinforced plastic bowls since they are transparent. A 360 sight cap or dome sealing the chamber 39 and nozzle 38 is secured in sealed relationship by a flange nut 112 and is also preferably made of transparent plastic so that visual observation will reveal by oil drop frequency how much oil is entering the air line. The greater the air flow the greater will be the pressure differential and the flow of oil.

Thus having described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various and further changes can be made therein within the objects set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a compressed air line system having a body member provided with a passage for conducting pressurized air therethrough and a removable bowl receiving air from said passageway and having a radial flange around the upper end thereof for supporting the bowl on said body member when pressurized, the combination of means for venting said bowl of air under pressure,

said bowl and body member having loosely engaging anular portions telescoping in an axial direction,

sealing means between said telescoping portions in'- cluding an annular resilient sealing member carried by one of the telescoping portions for engaging the other telescoping portion in a radial direction in axially slidable pressure sealing relationship,

a ring member engaging said flange on the bowl in supporting relationship, said ring member including adjacent to its edge that is remote from said bowl a set of circumferentially spaced radially projecting segmented annular flange elements having a uniform axial contour throughout their lengths upon their side that is remote from said edge,

a corresponding set of circumferentially spaced radially projecting segmented annular flange elements upon said body member having a uniform axial contour throughout their lengths mating with the first mentioned axial contour,

manually released latch means carried by one of said members for axial movement transversely to its flange elements in the space between two of its flange elements,

said sets of flange elements interdigitating with each other upon relative axial movement therebetween with the spaces between one set being substantially equal to the length of the elements of the other set so that each set passes through the spaces of and beyond the other set for relative rotation of the sets in alternate directions, one of the flange elements on the other of said members engaging and cooking the latch upon said axial movement and said latch snapping into the space between two flange elements on said one member upon rotation of the flange elements of one set into axial overlapping position with the other set to lock the ring member against relative release rotation in both directions, and

means for applying air pressure to said reservoir bowl urging said sealing means into sealing relationship and said overlapping sets of flange elements axially into heavy frictional engagement with each other.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said one of said members carrying the latch means has `an axially extending slot through the wall thereof at said space between said two flange elements, and said latch means includes,

an external handle on one side yof the slot,

an internal element in said space of a circumferential length approximately equal to that of said space,

an intermediate portion interconnecting said handle and internal element disposed in said slot in guided relationship, and resilient means inter-connecting said ring and internal element urging said internal element into l-atch engagement 3. In a compressed air line system having a body member provided with a passage for conducting pressurized air therethrough and a removable bowl receiving air from said passageway yand having a llange rim means around the upper end thereof for supporting the bowl on said body member when pressurized, the combination of means for Venting said bowl of air under pressure, said bowl and body member having loosely engaging annular portions telescoping in an axial direction, sealing me-ans between said telescoping portions including an annular resilient sealing member ca-rried by one of the telescoping portions f-or engaging the other telescoping portion under pressure in a radial direc- Ition in axially slidable pressure sealing relationship,

a ring member engaging said ange on the bowl in supporting relationship and including at its circumference .adjacent to the edge thereof remote from said bowl .a set of circumferentially spaced radially projecting segmented annular ange elements having a uniform axial contour throughout their lengths upon their side remote from said edge with their length and .the length of the spaces between being equal to the circumference,

a corresponding set of circumferentially spaced radially projecting segmented annular llange elements upon said Ibody member having a uniform axial contour mating with the -rst mentioned mating contour throughout their lengths,

manually released latch means carried by one of said members for axial movement transversely to its ange elements in the space between two of its ange elements,

said sets of flange elements interdigitating with each -other upon relative axial movement therebetween with the spaces between each set .receiving the elements of the other set therethrough so that each set passes beyond the other set for relative rotation of the sets in alternate directions, one of the ange elements lon the other of said members engaging and cooking the latch upon said axial Imovement and said llatch snapping into the space between two -ange elements on the one member upon rotation of the flange elements of one set into axial overlapping position with the other set to lock the ring member against relative release rot-ation in both directions and means for applying air pressure to said reservoir bowl urging said sealing means into sealing relationship .and said overlapping sets of flange elements axially into heavy frictional engagement -with each other.

4. In a compressed air line sys-tem having a body member provided with a passage for conducting pressurized ait therethrough and a removable bowl receiving air from said passageway and having a supporting radial flange -around the upper end thereof for supporting the bowl 0n said body member 4when pressurized, the combina-tion of means for venting said `bowl of air 4under pressure,

said bowl and body member having loos-ely engaging annular portions telescoping in yan axial direction,

sealing means between said telescoping portions including an O-ring carried by one of the telescoping portions for engaging the other telescoping portion -in a radial direction in axially slidable pressure sealing relationship,

a ring member engaging said lflange on the bowl in supporting relationship having a circumferential groove therein bordering a set of circumferentially spaced segmented annular ange elements of uniform cross section -throughout their lengths,

manually actuated latch means carried by said ring member for axial movement transversely in the space between tWo of said flange elements and normally intersecting said groove,

a corresponding set of circumferentially spaced segmented annular ange elements of uniform cross sect-ion throughout their lengths upon said body member subtended by a circumferential groove,

said sets of flange elements interdigitating with each other with the spaces between one set of elements being substantially equal to the length of the elements of the other set so that the sets on both members pass through the respective spaces and reach the grooves on the other members for relative rota-tion in alternate directions with one of the ange elements on the body member engaging and clocking the latch whereby said latch snaps into the space between two flange elements upon the body member to lock them against further rotation when the flange elements lof one set are rota-ted with respect to the other set into axial overlapping posit-ions, and

means for applying air pressure to said reservoir bowl urging said sealing means into sealing relationship and said overlapping sets of flange elements axially into heavy frictional engagement with each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,593,770 4/ 52 Kollsman.

2,684,779 7/54 Rafferty 220-40 3,081,901 3/63 Trishman 220-40 3,102,660 9/ 63 Bowden 220-40 3,115,950 12/63 Malec 184-55 LOU-IS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, THERON E. CONDON,

Examiners. 

1. IN A COMPRESSED AIR LINE SYSTEM HAVING A BODY MEMBER PROVIDED WITH A PASSAGE FOR CONDUCTING PRESSURIZED AIR THERETHROUGH AND A REMOVABLE BOWL RECEIVING AIR FROM SAID PASSAGEWAY AND HAVING A RADIAL FLANGE AROUND THE UPPER END THEREOF FOR SUPPORTING THE BOWL ON SAID BODY MEMBER WHEN PRESSURIZED, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR VENTING SAID BOWL OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE, SAID BOWL AND BODY MEMBER HAVING LOOSELY ENGAGING ANNULAR PORTIONS TELESCOPING IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION, SEALING MEANS BETWEEN SAID TELESCOPING PORTIONS INCLUDING AN ANNULAR RESILIENT SEALING MEMBER CARRIED BY ONE OF THE TELESCOPING PORTIONS FOR ENGAGING THE OTHER TELESCOPING PORTION IN A RADIAL DIRECTION IN AXIALLY SLIDABLE PRESSURE SEALING RELATIONSHIP, A RING MEMBER ENGAGING SAID FLANGE ON THE BOWL IN SUPPORTING RELATIONSHIP, SAID RING MEMBER INCLUDING ADJACENT TO ITS EDGE THAT IS REMOTE FROM SAID BOWL A SET OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RADIALLY PROJECTING SEGMENTED ANNULAR FLANGE ELEMENTS HAVING A UNIFORM AXIAL CONTOUR THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTHS UPON THEIR SIDE THAT IS REMOTE FROM SAID EDGE, A CORRESPONDING SET OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RADIALLY PROJECTING SEGMENTED ANNULAR FLANGE ELEMENTS UPON SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING A UNIFORM AXIAL CONTOUR THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTHS MATING WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED AXIAL CONTOUR, MANUALLY RELEASED LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID MEMBERS FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY TO ITS FLANGE ELEMENTS IN THE SPACE BETWEEN TWO OF ITS FLANGE ELEMENTS, SAID SETS OF FLANGE ELEMENTS INTERDIGITATING WITH EACH OTHER UPON RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN WITH THE SPACES BETWEEN ONE SET BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGT H OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE OTHER SET SO THAT EACH SET PASSES THROUGH THE SPACES OF AND BEYOND THE OTHER SET FOR RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE SETS IN ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS, ONE OF THE FLANGE ELEMENTS ON THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS ENGAGING AND COCKING THE LATCH UPON SAID AXIAL MOVEMENT AND SAID LATCH SNAPPING INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN TWO FLANGE ELEMENTS ON SAID ONE MEMBER UPON ROTATION OF THE FLANGE ELEMENTS OF ONE SET INTO AXIAL OVERLAPPING POSITION WITH THE OTHER SET TO LOCK THE RING MEMBER AGAINST RELATIVE RELEASE ROTATION IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND MEANS FOR APPLYING AIR PRESSURE TO SAID RESERVOIR BOWL URGING SAID SEALING MEANS INTO SEALING RELATIONSHIP AND SAID OVERLAPPING SETS OF FLANGE ELEMENTS AXIALLY INTO HEAVY FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER. 